HAMPTON, Va. (Nov. 16, 2024) …. Hampton (1-3) rallied from an 18-point first half deficit to close within six in the three times in the second half but could get no closer as Norfolk State (3-0) held on for a 67-58 victory over the Pirates before 6,539 fans at the Hampton Convocation Center.

After the Pirates took an 6-0 early lead, the Spartans embarked on a 21-2 run over the next 7:41 to go ahead 21-8 lead midway through the first half. Norfolk State's Brian Moore Jr. spurred the comeback with 13 first-half points. The Spartans led 34-20 at intermission. Norfolk State shot 48 percent from the field in the first half while limiting Hampton to 28.6 percent shooting from the field and 3-of-16 (18.8 percent) from beyond the arc. Seven Hampton players scored in the first half.

But the Pirates got untracked in the second half. Hampton scored eight of the first 10 points to trim the deficit and get back in the game. A layup by Kyrese Mullen at the 15:56 mark made it 36-30. George Beale Jr. led the way with a three-pointer and a bucket under the basket to spur the comeback.

Another Pirate run pushed the score to 48-42 with 7:26 to go on a free throw by Xzavier Long. But a pair of Spartan treys over the next two minutes increased the margin to 54-44 with 5:46. Hampton could get no closer than seven in the final 3:44.

Ten Pirates players reached the scoring column led by Beale Jr. with 12 and Noah Farrakhan, who scored 11 points. Kyrese Mullen finished with nine points and 13 boards.
Three Spartans reached double digits including Brian Moore Jr. with 20, Christian Ings, who scored 16, and Jalen Myers with 12.

The win was the first for the Spartans at the Hampton Convocation Center since 2015.
The Pirates return to action on Nov. 19 at 7:00 p.m. when Hampton plays at UMBC.